Take a piece of wax, a morsel of meat, a handful of sand, a pinch of clay, and some wood shavings and put them on a fire. The wax melts; the meat fries; the sand dries up; the clay hardens; the shavings blaze. Although they are subjected to the same fire, each of the objects reacts in a different way

This is a dramatic reminder of how individuals also react differently to the same circumstances. Subjected to hardship and despair, one person grows stronger, while others weaken or wither away. One person hears the Word of God and is made better. Others hear the same message and grow angry and rebellious.

Let us take heed how we respond to situations in our lives as well as to what we learn from God’s word. Remember, Acts 17:11 tells us, “These were more noble than those in Thessalonica, in that they received the word with all readiness of mind, and searched the scriptures daily, whether those things were so.” —adapted

Whoever reads this, we love you and God loves you. If you have questions or comments, contact Ivy at ivyconner@gmail.com or his website www.biblestudybooksbyivy.com or (361) 343‑2778. You’re invited to listen to Ivy and call-in on “Get Real,” America on Saturdays from 9 p.m. to midnight by going to www.thewordfm.com and clicking on “Listen Live”.